B-Side Guys

Sometimes brevity becomes brutality. exPorter’s “Letting Go” clocks in at barely over two minutes, but within that compressed timeframe, the Southern California trio manages to weaponize catharsis itself. This isn’t gradual healing—it’s emotional dynamite with a lit fuse.

The Cavazos brothers understand that certain feelings require maximum volume to process properly. Their fuzzed-out guitars don’t merely accompany the sentiment; they become the sentiment, grinding through distortion pedals like grief being fed through a wood chipper. The thunderous drums hit with the force of someone finally slamming a door they should have closed years ago. Every element conspires toward a single goal: making the act of release feel physically satisfying.

What elevates the track beyond simple cathartic noise is its structural intelligence. Rather than building toward a traditional climax, “Letting Go” maintains consistent intensity throughout, refusing the listener any reprieve. The vocal performance balances heartbreak with defiance, capturing that crucial moment when sadness transforms into something more actionable—not acceptance, but active rejection of whatever’s being left behind.

The production choices reflect exPorter’s punk influences while maintaining the melodic sensibilities that separate them from pure aggression merchants. Hidden beneath the controlled chaos lies genuine songcraft, hooks that manage to embed themselves despite—or perhaps because of—the sonic assault surrounding them. The band has learned to make noise serve melody rather than replace it.

“Letting Go” functions as both personal exorcism and universal invitation. It provides soundtrack for anyone who needs to turn internal volume up to match external circumstances, who requires noise to drown out whatever’s been too loud inside their head. exPorter has crafted the rare song that makes emotional release feel like a contact sport, where healing happens not through quiet reflection but through controlled destruction.